Deacon Michael's Sermon – Sunday 12st September 2003

Texts: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; Ps 53:3-6. 8 R/ v.6; James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37.

How do we measure greatness? A person with power, wealth, a drive for ambition: someone well known, popular, gifted with many talents? Perhaps we have in mind someone like David Beckham with an annual income of fifteen million, whose image alone can command 10 million a year from companies such as Adidas, Vodafone and Marks and Spencer. Whose effigy is revered by Buddhists in the Far East; whose shirts are worn by millions of devoted fans throughout the world. “A man who appears to have it all: looks, fame, talent, untold riches, a happy marriage and two children he adores” 1. But is that all what we think ‘greatness' to be: looks, fame, talent, riches? Is this wisdom from above, or is it the wisdom of a world torn apart by jealousy, ambition and disharmony.

St. James speaks of a wisdom which has come down from above: Jesus, the wisdom of God who took flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary – who stretched out his arms on the cross to enable us to achieve greatness. Who does he hold as his model for greatness: the rich, the powerful, the ambitious? No. He takes hold of a little child.

A child: who is seen but not heard, without rank, privilege or fortune. A child who is totally dependent on others if she is to live or grow. A child who is a humble servant. Someone insignificant, unrecognised a non- person - yet worthy of respect and care - it is here, in serving the apparently insignificant that his disciples can find greatness, that we, his disciples today, can find greatness, find Jesus Christ, find his Father. This is the key to our achieving greatness, not the greatness which the world thrusts upon, but the greatness which is the dignity of being called a Christian – our humble service of one another in the name of Christ, a greatness which is within the grasp of all of us.

It is the greatness of the mother and father, who lie awake at night worrying for the son who is late home, the daughter who won't talk to them. The greatness of the parishioner who visits their neighbour who is sick, lonely, in difficulty. The teacher working tirelessly to teach a difficult class. The nurse who cares for the dying. The husband and wife who minister to each other through difficulties in their marriage. The child who is moved to give some of her pocket money to the poor, after seeing images of suffering on Newsround.

A greatness without fame, fortune, image rights, power – but a greatness which is pure, kindly, considerate – a greatness that will transform this world by the commandment of love and reveal to it the image of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the servant of all.

1 Denis Campbell The Observer , Sunday 31 st August 2003.

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